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* Girlfriend found hanging naked from balcony with orange electrical cord tied around feet and hands

By David Gardner and Fiona Roberts
Last updated at 3:26 PM on 19th July 2011

Police are investigating reports that a noisy party was held at a mansion the night after a six-year-old boy fell down the stairs and was fatally injured - and just hours before his father's girlfriend was found dead hanging naked from a balcony.

Max Shacknai, the son of multimillionaire pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai, died at a San Diego hospital yesterday as a result of the injuries he suffered in the fall a week ago.

Two days after the accident his father's girlfriend, Rebecca Nalepa - who was looking after him at the time - was found hanging naked from a second-storey balcony, her hands and feet bound with orange electrical cord.

Reports of a party, which would have taken place as Mr Shacknai and his ex-wife held a vigil at their son's bedside, deepen the mystery surrounding the two deaths at the historic Spreckels Mansion in the upscale Coronado suburb of San Diego.

Last Monday, Max fell down the stairs at the property in what police called a tragic accident. He was not breathing and did not have a pulse when paramedics found him.(45 minutes later he was breathing.)

In a joint statement issued last night, his parents announced that the little boy died at Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego yesterday, and a memorial service will be held today.

The death of 32-year-old Miss Nalepa, described by police as 'very bizarre', came just two days after the fall.

Mr Shacknai's brother, Adam, who was staying in the mansion's guesthouse, cut Miss Nalepa down to try and save her then called 911. Mr Shacknai was not at home, police said.

Detectives are still waiting for forensic test results to help determine whether Miss Nalepa committed a ritualised suicide or whether she could have been murdered.

Now police have told Mail Online that they are taking another bizarre twist seriously.

Victim: Rebecca Nalepa, 32, pictured on the left with her son, was found wrapped in cord after apparently hanging at the millionaire's mansion

'We received information that there may have been a party at the house on Tuesday,' said Homicide Sergeant Roy Frank. 'This is only a report.

The exact nature of the get together at the house is something we will be looking at.'

Despite the fact that the victim was found bound at her hands and feet, Sergeant Frank said police have not ruled out suicide.

One theory being examined is that Ms Nalepa was overwhelmed with grief after the accident involving her lover's son.

But investigators have not established a formal connection between the two tragedies. Sergeant Frank said officers were carrying out interviews with witnesses and waiting for forensic tests.

Max's death adds to the tragedy surrounding Mr Shacknai, a multimillionaire known as a highly driven and ambitious player in the pharmaceuticals industry, whose firm has a $700million annual turnover producing cosmetic drugs similar to Botox.

It also emerged that Miss Nalepa, who has a past conviction for shoplifting, had given up her job as an ophthalmic technician in December to devote her time to Mr Shacknai, Max and his other two children.

Miss Nalepa was discovered naked, hanging from a second-storey balcony with her feet and hands bound with orange electrical cord, police have revealed.

She met what officers described as a 'very violent and very suspicious end' at the mansion.

While an autopsy has been completed, police are not releasing the details and have not yet ruled whether her grisly death was murder or suicide.

Speculation mounted it could be connected to the accident just days before, when Mr Shacknai's son fell down the property's grand staircase.

Miss Nalepa, a Burmese woman who had been in a relationship with Mr Shacknai for two years, was reportedly looking after the little boy at the time.

The mystery surrounding her death, which police have described as 'bizarre', deepened as it emerged a loud party had been held at the 27-room house on Tuesday night, the day before Miss Nalepa died - and the day after the little boy's accident.

San Diego County Sheriff's Office said Miss Nalepa's naked body was discovered by Mr Shacknai's brother, Adam, early on Wednesday morning.

Built in 1908, the luxurious 27-room Spreckels Mansion includes six bedrooms and an unfinished wine-storage room used during Prohibition.

One of the biggest residences in Coronado, it was built in 1908 as a beach home for John D. Spreckels, who owned the nearby Hotel del Coronado.

Adam, who had been staying at a guesthouse on the property, told detectives he found her hanging by her neck from a second floor balcony, with her hands and feet bound.

He cut her down from the balcony to try to save her, before calling 911.

Firefighters tried to revive Miss Nalepa, who they described as being 'in distress', but she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

When news cameras circled overhead, her naked body was lying sprawled in a grassy courtyard, with what appeared to be orange electrical wire trailing to one side.

Tim Curran, with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, described the circumstances as 'very suspicious', telling NBC San Diego that it appeared the victim had died a 'violent' death.

Mr Shacknai, who has been married twice before, is described as a highly-driven chief executive who makes a point of calling 1,500 dermatology customers each year on their birthdays.

Gary Nachman, a Wall Street analyst, told the San Diego Tribune: 'Jonah is very much the blood that runs through Medicis. They are a very meaningful player in the dermatology market.'

Although in Arizona, where his business is based, Mr Shacknai is known as a 'community leader' for his charity work, in Coronado he has has earned a reputation for being arrogant.

When he bought the historic Spreckels mansion in 2007, preservation officials said he agreed not to make any major changes to it. Yet he soon began petitioning to make alterations, including adding a hydraulic roof over part of the property, they claim.
THE TWICE-MARRIED TYCOON
Millionaire death

Jonah Shacknai founded pharmaceutical giant Medicis and has been chairman and chief executive since 1988.

The company makes dermatological and aesthetic pharmaceutical products and took $700million in revenue last year.

Shacknai has two other children from a previous marriage to Kimberly James, a pharmaceuticals sales representative for rival firm Johnson & Johnson.

The couple married in April 1993 in Bel Air, California, before filing for divorce in 1999.

She later told a psychologist that on their honeymoon he asked her if she thought the marriage was a mistake.

Family Court records show the couple reached a joint-custody agreement in 2001 for two children: a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy.

Shacknai later married Dina Romano, the boy's mother, and the couple divorced in 2008.

Jeff Alison, a neighbour who went to City Hall meetings on the proposed changes, said: 'I thought he was as arrogant as hell. It was his way or the highway.'

In May, Miss Nalepa, who had lived with Mr Shacknai for about two years, had successfully petitioned to revert to her maiden name, Rebecca Zahau.

Her ex-husband, Neil, told 10News: 'This is all overwhelming. I'm just trying to wrap my head around it.

A friend told NBC San Diego Miss Nalepa was a 'survivor' who would never have allowed herself to have been seen naked and would not have considered suicide.

Miss Nalepa's brother-in-law Doug Loehner also issued a statement, defending her boyfriend. He said: 'Jonah is a stand-up guy. He was very devoted to Rebecca. She treated his kids as her own.'

It emerged Miss Nalepa has a past conviction for shoplifting.

In 2009, she went into a Macy's store and put more than $1,000-worth of jewellery into different shopping bags. Security officers grabbed her as she was walking out and called police.

Miss Nalepa pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour, agreed to pay a $500 fine and attend a shoplifting 'diversion' course.

But her former boss at Horizon Eye Specialists & Lasik Center in Phoenix has paid tribute to Miss Nalepa, describing her as a dedicated professional who was 'full of life', the San Diego Tribune reports.

Miss Nalepa began working there as an ophthalmic technician in April 2008, but left in December last year to devote more time to Mr Shacknai and his three children.

Michael Trier said; 'We are saddened and troubled by the circumstances of her death. It is our hope that justice can be served for Rebecca.

'She was very good with our patients. She was very committed for several years to her career. She was a personality very much full of life.'

The 27-room Spreckels mansion was built in 1908 in the wealthy seaside suburb of about 24,000 people on San Diego Bay. It is named for its original owner John D. Spreckels, who also owned the majestic Hotel del Coronado and two local newspapers, the San Diego Union and San Diego Tribune.

Coronado had just one homicide last year, and the police department asked the sheriff's department to help with the investigation.

Mr Shacknai founded Medicis, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and has been chairman and CEO since 1988.

The terrible tragedy that had been in the life of Arizona pharmaceuticals tycoon Jonah Shacknai is overwhelming on Monday July 11th his 6 year-old son Max died to his injuries after falling down the stairs while was being cared for by his girlfriend Rebecca who just two days after was found dead, Max died on Sunday from his injuries. Adam Shacknai his brother flew to give his support to his brother after Max’s accident, but Adam found more awful news, he was the one who found Rebecca’s nude lifeless body.

54 year-old Jonah Shacknai founded Medicis Pharmaceuticals Corp in Scottsdale, Arizona on 1988 he has been the company’s chief Executive and Chairman ever since. Medicis is famous for many products mostly for Dysport, (botox competition), Restylane (Anti Wrinkle), Ziana and Solodyn (acne treatment).

32 year-old Rebecca Nalepa or Rebecca Zahau an ophthalmic technician at Horizon Eye Specialists & Lasik Center she worked there until last December, her former boss she quit her job to focus on her boyfriend and his children (three from two previous marriages)

Rebecca was found by Jonah Shacknai’s brother Adam he saw her hanging nude from a second story balcony in the mansion, her hands and feet bound. The only person who was at the house was she and her brother in-law Adam Shacknai, he was staying at the guest house he saw Rebecca nude body hanging from the balcony at about 6:30 am, he ran to help her when he saw her there and in an attempt to save her life he cut her down but it was in vain she was dead he called called 911 around 6:48 a.m. Is Adam a suspect of Rebecca Zahau’s death?

Although her death is way too weird he is not at least not for now, police said Adam Shacknai has been very cooperative and experts said that in their years of experience they know that a person who is hanged has about 4 to 8 minutes in which someone can resuscitate them, perhaps Adam thought he could do that.

“I know from past history of suicide cases that somebody can be revived between four to eight minutes after such an incident so maybe he thought she could be saved and that is why he cut her down.
(Dead for 3+ hours. A little bit late, don't cha think?)

But this is such an unusual case in such an up-market area like Coronado and there are clearly still a lot of unanswered questions. The detectives involved in the case will be working around the clock to solve this mystery.”

Adam Shacknai lives in the area of Midtown Memphis area, he flew from his home to his brother’s side as soon as he heard about Maxie’s accident..

“Adam arrived after Max’s accident, Adam was there to provide comfort to his brother, Jonah. Adam came as soon as he could to be with his brother. Max was hospitalized on July 11, and taken off life support on July 17.”

...The day after his son’s fatal fall Jonah called his loser brother to convince him to come to california to exact his revenge on who he believed was responsible for his son’s death. The night of the murder Rebecca had already fallen asleep when Adam who had access to the home bound Rebecca first with duct tape then rope and attempted to pulled her shirt she had worn to bed over her neck. unable to do this he wrapped it around her neck three times and used it as a gag but did not remove it because the noose had already been tied, to humiliate her further he cut her and removed her underwear she was wearing because she was menstruating (thus no other menstrual blood throughout the house or room) he then carried her over his shoulder and took her to the window. He set her down on her feet and then with a shove pushed her over. He then turned up the music and went to work attempting to create a crime scene that in some way could be seen as a suicide. Including the strange writing on the wall..

Adam is the one with a history of mental illness, crime, and acohol.

The knots are the tell tell sign, he used complex boatsmen knots Rebecca would not have known but he as a crewman on a tug boat in memphis would know well.

I too saw the press conference but there are too many questions that a suicide don’t answer. This to me is a clear case of murder.

...The day after his son’s fatal fall Jonah called his loser brother and convinced him to rush to California to exact his revenge on the woman he believed was responsible for his son’s death. On the night of Rebecca’s murder she had already fallen asleep when Adam Shacknai who had access to the home bound Rebecca first with duct tape then rope. He used the blue shirt she was wearing to blindfold and gag her, to humiliate her further he cut and removed her underwear she was wearing because she was menstruating (thus no other menstrual blood throughout the house or room) He carefully led her through the room forcing her to touch items needed for the suicide evidence. He then carried her over his shoulder and took her to the window. He set her down on her feet and then with a shove pushed her over. He then turned up the music and went to work attempting to create a crime scene that in some way could be seen as a suicide. Including the strange writing on the wall.. He had hours to erase any signs of struggle.

Adam is the one with a history of mental illness, crime, and acohol. The KNOTS are the tell tell sign, he used complex boatsmen knots Rebecca would not have known but he as a crewman on a tug boat in Memphis he would use daily.
(Same poster, different boards.)

...Sad Dam Who's Sane
September 3rd, 2011 on 9:40 am

From the start, the authorities were strongly adamant about Zahau’s hanging being a “suicide.” Did anybody notice the initial tv news reports & helicopter flying over showed that Zahau was still alive at 9:00 am and died “on the way” to the hospital ? And now they said she died at 3:00 am? Also, they said she used an orange electrical cord; now it changed to a rope. Hmmm.

This is a clear case of murder. The day after his son’s fatal fall Jonah called his loser brother and convinced him to rush to California to exact his revenge on the woman he believed was responsible for his son’s death. On the night of Rebecca's murder she had already fallen asleep when Adam Shacknai who had access to the home bound Rebecca first with duct tape then rope. He used the blue shirt she was wearing to blindfold and gag her, to humiliate her further he cut and removed her underwear she was wearing because she was menstruating (thus no other menstrual blood throughout the house or room) He carefully led her through the room forcing her to touch items needed for the murder. He then carried her over his shoulder and took her to the window. He set her down on her feet and then with a shove pushed her over. He then turned up the music and went to work attempting to create a crime scene that in some way could be seen as a suicide. Including the strange writing on the wall.. He had hours to erase any signs of struggle.

Adam is the one with a history of mental illness, crime, and acohol. The KNOTS are the tell tell sign, he used complex boatsmen knots Rebecca would not have known but he as a crewman on a tug boat in Memphis he would use daily.

Comment

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Is it alright if I just call you, donttell?"

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faxNJUkQy8k
867-5309 call me anytime!
Radaronline was one of the first sites I visited with regards to this tragedy. It's all the same when it comes to "accidents, suicides and $$$$, isn't it?

...and I enjoyed posting the information for the group. Wasn't sure what had or had not been posted, so I decided to waste a bunch of bytes. You are welcome and I know there are a few who do appreciate "too much information".
"Too much information" is a cop out for a weak processor. No upgrades for humans, though.
Nothing I love better than a search for the truth amongst the forest of the obvious.)

"We just call him DTTJ - just keep in mind that he will throw you a curve every once in a while!!!"

Have you ever heard Poplyfe? A real young group from some place further north in CA.
Anyway, they sing this song, I Wanna Be A Billionaire. I downloaded it and sing along when I'm cleaning my humble lil abode.